Metaphor of "Getting it" ... Seeing the Elephant!
To share a breakthrough with someone is like telling a joke, explaining the joke doesn't work. There's only polite laughter and no growing sense of camaraderie. Why is this true for a breakthrough?
Here's a simple metaphor to illustrate why one hearing or reading about the global ToBe Project must "get it" in a similar way. ... Consider the age-old story of the blind men who approach an elephant. In this version the elephant is causing lots of different impossible-seeming “Monster problems” for the villagers. The legs are stomping the vegetables (e.g. homelessness, diminishment of voting rights, the rise of authoritarianism, inflation), the trunk is ripping away the fruit trees (e.g. the maldistribution of wealth, wars), etc. Not seeing the elephant the blind men get to work trying to solve these seemingly separate problems. Each of the blind men becomes expert in his problem-area, getting Phd’s and teaching others how to restrain the piston-like "legs" with barriers, or stop the snake-like "trunk" with chemicals. But if you and I see the elephant we "get it" that all these problems are connected and have the same cause. And that the cause is a living being! ... We also see how the so-called "solutions" are not helping, how they are upsetting the elephant and ultimately making things worse.
Seeing the elephant requires a creative shift in perception. When it happens, new simple solution possibilities emerge for all the problems at once, like piling some hay away from the garden so the elephant will move to a different location. But no matter how much explanation you attempt, the experts are already wedded to not seeing. To them our "hay solution" seems irrelevant and easily dismissed. Clearly to them, we are uneducated about these problems and naïve about the situation. They think we must first read and learn about their field of expertise (e.g. political science.). Plus, they think we are being grandiose in our estimates of the benefits likely to arise from our strategy: First, that it offers a way to solve all the Monsters at once. (That’s why we call it a "Holution.") And second that it offers a transformation of the underlying System of society because, if we treat the elephant respectfully, it can be a huge help to construction, agriculture, and in ways that we can't yet imagine.
The experts continue working hard, each on a particular Monster. Frequently, they say things like “There are no easy answers," or "There will be no Silver Bullet." How can they deny human creativity in this way? Of course, we’d like to be able to communicate our perspective to the experts. But they don't see the elephant and they aren't going to look! It turns out they don't really "own" their Monster enough to be curious about out-of-the-box answers. They just own their problem-solving approach. Fortunately, we don't need their permission to start our Project. We just need enough resources to buy some hay and place it somewhere outside the village garden ... and of course, access to the elephant to start building a relationship.
Today, our struggles aren't about an elephant. But they are about our seeing a previously invisible, powerful "living system." There is a missing "We the People" that we (just us) can facilitate into existence. When this new "We" emerges ...
Globally: Immense benefits arise
Here's a simple metaphor to illustrate why one hearing or reading about the global ToBe Project must "get it" in a similar way. ... Consider the age-old story of the blind men who approach an elephant. In this version the elephant is causing lots of different impossible-seeming “Monster problems” for the villagers. The legs are stomping the vegetables (e.g. homelessness, diminishment of voting rights, the rise of authoritarianism, inflation), the trunk is ripping away the fruit trees (e.g. the maldistribution of wealth, wars), etc. Not seeing the elephant the blind men get to work trying to solve these seemingly separate problems. Each of the blind men becomes expert in his problem-area, getting Phd’s and teaching others how to restrain the piston-like "legs" with barriers, or stop the snake-like "trunk" with chemicals. But if you and I see the elephant we "get it" that all these problems are connected and have the same cause. And that the cause is a living being! ... We also see how the so-called "solutions" are not helping, how they are upsetting the elephant and ultimately making things worse.
Seeing the elephant requires a creative shift in perception. When it happens, new simple solution possibilities emerge for all the problems at once, like piling some hay away from the garden so the elephant will move to a different location. But no matter how much explanation you attempt, the experts are already wedded to not seeing. To them our "hay solution" seems irrelevant and easily dismissed. Clearly to them, we are uneducated about these problems and naïve about the situation. They think we must first read and learn about their field of expertise (e.g. political science.). Plus, they think we are being grandiose in our estimates of the benefits likely to arise from our strategy: First, that it offers a way to solve all the Monsters at once. (That’s why we call it a "Holution.") And second that it offers a transformation of the underlying System of society because, if we treat the elephant respectfully, it can be a huge help to construction, agriculture, and in ways that we can't yet imagine.
The experts continue working hard, each on a particular Monster. Frequently, they say things like “There are no easy answers," or "There will be no Silver Bullet." How can they deny human creativity in this way? Of course, we’d like to be able to communicate our perspective to the experts. But they don't see the elephant and they aren't going to look! It turns out they don't really "own" their Monster enough to be curious about out-of-the-box answers. They just own their problem-solving approach. Fortunately, we don't need their permission to start our Project. We just need enough resources to buy some hay and place it somewhere outside the village garden ... and of course, access to the elephant to start building a relationship.
Today, our struggles aren't about an elephant. But they are about our seeing a previously invisible, powerful "living system." There is a missing "We the People" that we (just us) can facilitate into existence. When this new "We" emerges ...
- many Monster Problems will go away and stop being initiated.
- experts, street demonstrators, elected officials, and the general public will choose to participate in the new "We the People" conversation that builds the spirit of community rather than undermine it.
- the many "We need to ..." democracy innovations that have been developed will generate new interest and have the chance to be considered or implemented (e.g. ideas for a global constitution, citizens assemblies, etc.)
- a new System of "Wise Democracy" ("of, by and for the people" plus wise choices) will ultimately emerge, with the potential to transform the narrative, motivations, etc.
Globally: Immense benefits arise
Why is it hard for people to "get it"?
You might imagine that people would react excitedly to the global ToBe Project: "Yippie! Maybe there's a way we can solve all the Monster Problems (e.g. reverse the trend to autocracy) at once. And even more, co-create a new democratic system of governance with collective intelligence as the result.
In over 30 years of sharing this idea only a few people have responded this way. The more usual response is avoidance, dismissal, diminishment and sometimes anger. Why?
In over 30 years of sharing this idea only a few people have responded this way. The more usual response is avoidance, dismissal, diminishment and sometimes anger. Why?
Here are three possibilities ...
- To "get it" is to feel response-able.. Naturally, we want experts, government agencies, think tanks, religious communities, Congressional committees, philanthropies, or non-profit organizations to own Monsters like saving American Democracy, solving climate change, overturning money-in-politics, eliminating pandemic threats, transcending media silos, etc.
- We are addicted. Try telling an alcoholic that you have an idea about how they could solve many of their personal problems quickly: They should stop drinking. This suggestion is likely to spark anger more than curiosity. Like the alcoholic we are similarly trapped in the Matrix, our System.
- This can FEEL like a death threat. One lawyer said, "I get it ... once this is implemented there won't be much need for lawyers, will there?"... Right. .... He was consciously aware that this threatens his professional life. Most people don't have this level of conscious awareness. Unconsciously, however, they fear for their lives.
Here are some different ways to "get it."
- Start with a Monster Problem you care about deeply (e.g. loss of personal freedoms, money-in-politics, homelessness) Explore how the Project will remedy your selected Monster. See Solving Global Problems.
- Create your BIGGEST WISH for the World. Then reflect on the global Monster Wish. Hopefully, you will realize that the Monster Wish contains your wish and the ToBe Project will accomplish the Monster Wish. So this is a holistic solution like "seeing the elephant," affecting all the Monster Problems.
- Examine the 2002 book by Jim Rough, which describes a seemingly innocuous U.S. Constitutional Amendment that promises to transform any System: "Society's Breakthrough! Releasing Essential Wisdom and Virtue in All the People." Enacting this as a part of any global Constitution will naturally enlist the interest of everyone, including official decision-makers, unelected officials, the economy and the culture. Today's version is the Wise Democracy Amendment.
- Investigate the social innovations which comprise the Wise Democracy Project. One way to do this is to review the free 5-part video seminar: Essential Wisdom for Solving Society's Biggest Issues. Another approach is to take the 3-day seminar on Dynamic Facilitation and the Wisdom Council Process, which provides space for you to work on solving your personal impossible-seeming Monsters.
- Investigate the three different "Dynamical Systems"—Triangle, Box and Circle. Note how our current Box System, a Constitutional Republic, cannot work into the future. So, it's a question of whether we go back to the Triangle or forward to the Circle. One recommended article is "The Circle System"
- If you are already familiar with the Citizens Assembly you might examine how the it differs from the Wisdom Council Process. See the chart contrasting the two. Also see other charts of comparison.
- Recognize that Normal Solutions ... i.e. street demonstrations, new leaders, education, social movements, new technologies and even new policies are insufficient to resolve the Monster Problems, because they are caused by the System. See Solving Global Problems
Note: "Getting it" becomes easier once the Project begins
After we (i.e. just us) begin the Wise Democracy Project a growing number of people will gain experience with the social innovations and feel a new sense of understanding, ownership, agency and empowerment. People will see, for instance, "Wow! A random group of people from the nation can face an impossible-seeming Monster, reach wise shared conclusions in a short time and spark a creative, collaborative public conversation in which I can participate!" And, it will also become apparent that important changes naturally come from this new "We the People" conversation.
Growing experience with the process eventually leads to everyone "getting it"
Phase 0) ... Let's give it a try
Of course, we would like to be able to describe the ToBe Project and have people vibrate with excitement. Heck, it promises to transform many of our most pressing, impossible-seeming problems and has no identifiable risk! But when any paradigm shift is involved, words alone are rarely enough. It's especially hard when all of us Americans are so attached to our Constitutional Republic, which we often mislabel "Democracy," and to the founding story of the United States. To challenge this can feel like a death threat. But today this 18th century System is CAUSING many of America's "Monster Problems." Let's proceed anyway.
Phase 1) ... Considering the 8 steps of the ToBe Project. By themselves these offer amazing within-System benefits. For instance, they introduce a new model of change, not top-down or bottom-up but facilitative; they turn national attention toward solving one vitally important issue at a time; they create a living symbol of all-the-people; they set in motion a new national conversation aimed at mutual respect, cooperation and appreciation of diverse views; they educate citizens on particular issues and the history and logic of our current System; and they help people to feel involved and empowered, even in the face of seemingly impossible societal issues.
A good case can be made for starting the Wise Democracy Project even without understanding the System-transforming aspects. Then as people gain experience with the social innovations it becomes a lot easier to understand the whole vision.
Level 2) ... After the first Wisdom Council ... At this point we will have seen a random group of citizens, from diverse constituencies, address some Monster issue and reach wise shared conclusions. The process works even when some people are disruptive or uninformed or stuck in an old mindset. We''ll also see how, after they present their shared conclusions to "the people," the audience receives this perspective with interest and open-mindedness, continuing the conversation in a more collegial manner than we might expect.
At this early stage maybe not so many people are involved, but this is not a process requiring us to "scale up." We start "at scale" by creating a symbol of everyone. And then with each additional Wisdom Council we “fill in” the symbol of “We the People” with ever more people. Anyone who refers to what the Wisdom Council says or the process, even just comments to friends, is a part of it. They have joined the conversation.
Level 3) ... After the first year of global Wisdom Councils. The number of people in the conversation has grown exponentially with each cycle. There are the people in the Wisdom Councils, in different face-to-face audiences, in the growing broadcast audiences, in various "responder meetings”, in "stakeholder meetings," etc. Remember, anyone who cares deeply about a Monster issues and knows about the Wisdom Council's conclusions is in the conversation.
Naturally, because we start with a random selection of people and they reach unity ... most people say "YES!" to what they hear from each Wisdom Council. So there is a growing co-sensus on each issue. And there is growing power for making the conclusions happen ... as individuals and within NGO's, philanthropies, governmental bodies, etc, Also, as the process moves forward there is a growing understanding of the issues, the way change happens, and who we all are as "We the People."
Level 4) ... After a few years of Wise Democracy Councils. Many more people are participating and there is an ever greater convergence of views. People are co-creating new clarity about the issues, their concerns and possible solution strategies. At this point the Wisdom Councils aren't just expressing a voice of the "public interest" that gets entered into the normal power struggle of special interests. It’s the emergence of a new, wise powerful "We the People," capable of asserting leadership to governance, the economy and the culture. Finally, we have a way to escape the usual pendulum swing from conservative to liberal, so we can start making win/win progress that all can support.
Growing experience with the process eventually leads to everyone "getting it"
Phase 0) ... Let's give it a try
Of course, we would like to be able to describe the ToBe Project and have people vibrate with excitement. Heck, it promises to transform many of our most pressing, impossible-seeming problems and has no identifiable risk! But when any paradigm shift is involved, words alone are rarely enough. It's especially hard when all of us Americans are so attached to our Constitutional Republic, which we often mislabel "Democracy," and to the founding story of the United States. To challenge this can feel like a death threat. But today this 18th century System is CAUSING many of America's "Monster Problems." Let's proceed anyway.
Phase 1) ... Considering the 8 steps of the ToBe Project. By themselves these offer amazing within-System benefits. For instance, they introduce a new model of change, not top-down or bottom-up but facilitative; they turn national attention toward solving one vitally important issue at a time; they create a living symbol of all-the-people; they set in motion a new national conversation aimed at mutual respect, cooperation and appreciation of diverse views; they educate citizens on particular issues and the history and logic of our current System; and they help people to feel involved and empowered, even in the face of seemingly impossible societal issues.
A good case can be made for starting the Wise Democracy Project even without understanding the System-transforming aspects. Then as people gain experience with the social innovations it becomes a lot easier to understand the whole vision.
Level 2) ... After the first Wisdom Council ... At this point we will have seen a random group of citizens, from diverse constituencies, address some Monster issue and reach wise shared conclusions. The process works even when some people are disruptive or uninformed or stuck in an old mindset. We''ll also see how, after they present their shared conclusions to "the people," the audience receives this perspective with interest and open-mindedness, continuing the conversation in a more collegial manner than we might expect.
At this early stage maybe not so many people are involved, but this is not a process requiring us to "scale up." We start "at scale" by creating a symbol of everyone. And then with each additional Wisdom Council we “fill in” the symbol of “We the People” with ever more people. Anyone who refers to what the Wisdom Council says or the process, even just comments to friends, is a part of it. They have joined the conversation.
Level 3) ... After the first year of global Wisdom Councils. The number of people in the conversation has grown exponentially with each cycle. There are the people in the Wisdom Councils, in different face-to-face audiences, in the growing broadcast audiences, in various "responder meetings”, in "stakeholder meetings," etc. Remember, anyone who cares deeply about a Monster issues and knows about the Wisdom Council's conclusions is in the conversation.
Naturally, because we start with a random selection of people and they reach unity ... most people say "YES!" to what they hear from each Wisdom Council. So there is a growing co-sensus on each issue. And there is growing power for making the conclusions happen ... as individuals and within NGO's, philanthropies, governmental bodies, etc, Also, as the process moves forward there is a growing understanding of the issues, the way change happens, and who we all are as "We the People."
Level 4) ... After a few years of Wise Democracy Councils. Many more people are participating and there is an ever greater convergence of views. People are co-creating new clarity about the issues, their concerns and possible solution strategies. At this point the Wisdom Councils aren't just expressing a voice of the "public interest" that gets entered into the normal power struggle of special interests. It’s the emergence of a new, wise powerful "We the People," capable of asserting leadership to governance, the economy and the culture. Finally, we have a way to escape the usual pendulum swing from conservative to liberal, so we can start making win/win progress that all can support.